Event #58: $10,000 Main Event
Day 1d Makes 2011 the Third-Largest WSOP Main Event Ever with 6,865 Entrants!
The big question on everyone’s at the start of the 2011 World Series of Poker was, “How many entries will there be into the Main Event?” After seven long weeks, that question has finally been answered. Day 1d of the 2011 WSOP drew 2,802 players to bring the total over the past four days to 6,865 players, making this the third largest Main Event in WSOP history. The subsequent $64,531,000 prize pool no doubt astounded the skeptics who originally believe the Main would attract less than 5,000 players.
The top 693 players are slated to be paid, with a min-cash earning $19,359; however, there is no doubt that everyone in the field have their eyes set on the life-changing first-place prize of $8,711,956. About 65-70% of today’s 2,802-player field survived to Day 2, with Mory Little appearing to be the Day 1a chip leader with 179,450 (though his position as chip leader is not official until the numbers are released tomorrow).
Hot on the chip leader's heels are Ben Mintz (176,875), Roj Vohra (167,450), Anthony Miller (166,000), Dax Mellon (161,325), and Antony Lellouche (155,200).
Here is a look at the final-table payouts for the 2011 WSOP; as well as a list of the different Day 1 chip leaders:
1st . . . $8,711,956
2nd . . . $5,430,928
3rd . . . $4,019,635
4th . . . $3,011,661
5th . . . $2,268,909
6th . . . $1,720,396
7th . . . $1,313,851
8th . . . $1,009,910
9th . . . $782,115
Top Day 1 Chip Counts
Day Player Hometown Chip Count
1a Fred Berger Las Vegas, NV 209,000
1b Ben Lamb Tulsa, OK 188,925
1c Kevin Song Diamond Bar,
163,3251d Mory Little Charlotte, NC 179,450
While everyone was excited about the incredible turnout, there was still a poker game to be played. Being the largest of the four starting days, Day 1d seemed to inspire the most action. Pros and amateurs alike packed the Pavilion and Amazon Rooms, but it didn’t take long for the field to start culling itself.
Some notable eliminations throughout Day 1d included Prahlad Friedman, Tom “durrrr” Dwan, Steve Zolotow, James Mackey, John Juanda, William Reynolds, Frank Kassela, Tom Marchese, Melanie Weisner, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Jennifer Tilly, Angel Guillen, Ivan Demidov, Alexander Kravcheko, Owais Ahmed, Antonio Esfandiari, David Williams, and Nelly (as in the rap superstar).
Likewise, 2010 November Niners Jason Senti and John Dolan won’t be making return trips to the final table as they became the second and third players from last year’s final nine to hit the rail (Michael Mizrachi was eliminated on Day 1b). While a laundry list of pros fell to the wayside, a no-less impressive list will be returning for Day 2b on Tuesday. They include former World Champions Huck Seed (42,600), Jamie Gold (82,000), Berry Johnston (28,850), Robert Varkonyi (59,525), and Joe Hachem (45,700); Europeans Noah Boeken (78,675) and Lars Bonding (94,000); the always-beautiful Amanda Musumeci (134,800); veterans Lyle Berman (127,575) and Freddy Deeb; the Unabomber Phil Laak (45,700); Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton (49,600); and former Main Event runner-ups Steve Dannenmann and Darvin Moon.